Ben Shelley: Late goal sinks Kings in opening night loss to Golden Knights

So I guess I understand what the Wild fans were saying about Fiala and the bad penalties. Yeesh.

Clarke should come in for Durzi next game. Durzi should sit and think about that "episode" for a game.

That hail mary with 30 seconds to go and no pressure was one of the dumbest plays that I can recall. Durzi's offense may be an asset, but his defense is an even greater liability.

Also, I was amused by a quote of McLellan saying that the team prides itself on its "defensive structure" before the team went on to allow 51 shots in regulation at home. I haven't seen defensive structure since Blake and McLellan took over.

So I guess I understand what the Wild fans were saying about Fiala and the bad penalties. Yeesh.

Clarke should come in for Durzi next game. Durzi should sit and think about that "episode" for a game.
- Only_A_Ladd

I thought Durzi looked pretty good. Must have missed the episode you speak of. it was late lol. They aren't tied in that game without him. Mikey Anderson had noticeably bad moments IMO.

Also, i was watching for merely fantasy hockey reasons so I may have just been turning a blind eye to his defensive play

That pairing of Roy-Durzi was an absolute tire fire. I wouldn't mind sitting Roy, his two blatant turnovers coupled with an iffy play on the same shift caused the Danault penalty which directly resulted in a PP goal for the visitors. ROY WAS TERRIBLE.

Durzi wasn't much better, but we need to remember, this is his second game since he missed almost all of camp. When he went behind the net with just under a minute left I thought he was going to burn the clock and take the point, but then the crown started booing and you can see him look at the clock. I don't think he realized there was a minute left when he went behind the net. Coupled with the shower of boos, I think he forced his hand when he should've just taken the boos and eaten the last 30 seconds... no excuse, it was a bonehead play especially considering how the knights had been swarming the D in their own zone... ugh. what a way to start.

What a nice change to be able to see in Crypto... holy smokes they finally turned on the lights...

51 SA... thought I was watching Ducks vs Vegas ... that is usually Our stat line vs them.

What a nice change to be able to see in Crypto... holy smokes they finally turned on the lights...

51 SA... thought I was watching Ducks vs Vegas ... that is usually Our stat line vs them.
- dozerD10

The defense was a sh*t show. The Kings finished second to Carolina in shot suppression last year. That was a big reason they made the playoffs because they didn't have great team goaltending and they were a poor shooting team (shooting percentage, not shots which were ample). I'm not worried after 1 game on that front, but it is unusual to see 51 shots when stopping them is your team's chief strength.

I thought Durzi looked pretty good. Must have missed the episode you speak of. it was late lol. They aren't tied in that game without him. Mikey Anderson had noticeably bad moments IMO.

Also, i was watching for merely fantasy hockey reasons so I may have just been turning a blind eye to his defensive play
- Mahewman

Tie game late in the third. Durzi behind the net. Held the puck for ~30 seconds as the clock wound down. By all appearances the Kings (and Vegas for that matter) conceded this was going to OT. Durzi then tries a long stretch pass to Moore which gets picked off and Vegas goes the other way. Coach called it stupid. Apt description. I bet Durzi agrees.

Disappointing, yes. However, it's just game 1 and I know we will lock things down better moving forward.

The defense was a sh*t show. The Kings finished second to Carolina in shot suppression last year. That was a big reason they made the playoffs because they didn't have great team goaltending and they were a poor shooting team (shooting percentage, not shots which were ample). I'm not worried after 1 game on that front, but it is unusual to see 51 shots when stopping them is your team's chief strength.
- Only_A_Ladd

I don't think that defense is a strength of this team. They just try to play offense so that they don't have to defend. Durzi epitomizes the team's priorities. When the offense isn't firing on all cylinders and they have to defend, like in Round 1 and last night, it gets ugly.